I just saw the movie "Class" for the first time (how had I missed this before??). I discovered that it contains many interesting elements that are dispersed, diluted, echoed and reseeded in many similar films over the next few years. The genre is 80s teen/Brat Pack--could this be the ur-film in that category? I have started a table for comparison purposes. It is by no means complete, so please tell me if you know for a fact that there should be another checkmark somewhere. (I only checked off things I was Really Sure about.) Note that "Class" is in the bottom row here, with checks in every single column.

Title

AndrewMcCarthy

Chicago

Olderwoman

JohnCusack

barebreasts

alcohol/drugs

convertible

RobLowe

year

16 Candles

√

√

√

√

1984

Breakfast Club

√

√

1985

Pretty in Pink

√

1986

Ferris Bueller...

√

√

1986

Adventures inBabysitting

√

1987

St. Elmo's Fire

√

√

√

√

√

1985

Less than Zero

√

√

√

1987

The Sure Thing

√

1985

Wierd Science

√

1985

Oxford Blues

√

1984

Better Off Dead

√

1985

Class

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

1983

Brief note: I was excitedly expounding on this film at home, so we did a quick search to look for info. We found the following writeup of "Class" on German Amazon, and ran it through a translate program just for the pleasure. The descriptions that result are as good as any:

Brief Description: "For a newcomer like Jonathan turns out to be the oldest thing in the world suddenly as the most difficult. A bit too shy and inexperienced, the prospective stumbles Examenskanditat chosen for his first erotic Gehversuchen into a completely verzwickte history. Heavy head over heels in love, far from all Earth, it is rather ungently on the floor of the facts back. Seine "remedial teacher" in matters erotic turns out to be the mother of his best friend. no surprise that such a seduction risikogeladene leaves its traces. however, it would be laughed if Jonathan his exams in all respects with distinction there. Schmunzelspaß A sexy, peppy staged, gorgeous played. Teeny a cheeky comedy, the mood is easy! "

Video Market: The neunzehnjährige Jonathan friends at the College after brushing with room mutual colleague Skip. Soon after he learns the attractive Ellen know, 35 years, stunning and - what Jonathan did not know - mother of Skip. Ellen Burroughs, in the coldness of her husband suffers, seduces Jonathan and robs his innocence. As Jonathan visited the family in a country house herself, Skip finds his mother in Jonathan's bed. The boys beat up and clean their dispute after Männerart. Ellen ended the affair.

2 comments:

Yes, VF and old Spy continue to inspire, though I have a hard time admitting it about the former. I love this table so much I just reconfigured my entire blog (as of today, August 29, 2008) so that it will fit properly! Got to keep the McCarthy info handy for us 80s lovers.